Space / NASA
Space launches, NASA missions, SpaceX events, and major astronomical announcements.
Upcoming Events
Artemis II Moon Mission
NASA's first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Crew: Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialists). The SLS rocket arrived at Launch Pad 39B on March 20. Launch window: April 1-6, with backup April 30. 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
ESA/CAS SMILE Mission Launch
The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) launches on a Vega-C rocket. A joint ESA/Chinese Academy of Sciences mission to study how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere.
NG-24 Cargo Resupply Mission to ISS
Northrop Grumman NG-24 cargo resupply mission to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, scheduled for April 3, 2026.
SpaceX Starship Flight 12 — First Block 3 Test
First Starship test flight featuring Block 3 vehicles (Booster 19 + Ship 39). Launching from Starbase, Texas. FCC license window opens April 5.
Boeing Starliner-1 Uncrewed Cargo Mission to ISS
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft flies an uncrewed cargo mission to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This mission will validate system upgrades made after the Crew Flight Test.
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak
The Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 22, 2026. Active from April 16-25, the Lyrids typically produce 10-20 meteors per hour.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy — ViaSat-3 F3 Launch
SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite for the Asia-Pacific region into geostationary transfer orbit. First Falcon Heavy launch since 2024 and 11th ever.
Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak
Annual meteor shower from Halley's Comet debris peaks before dawn on May 5. Up to 50 meteors/hour under ideal conditions, though a nearly full moon two days prior will reduce visibility. Best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere.
Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
Venus and Jupiter will appear strikingly close together in the western sky just after sunset, separated by only 1.5 degrees. One of the most spectacular planetary conjunctions of 2026, easily visible to the naked eye.
China Tianwen-2 Arrives at Kamo'oalewa Asteroid
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft reaches near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo'oalewa after launching May 2025. Will spend 7 months studying the quasi-moon and collecting samples for return to Earth in 2027.
Griffin Mission One (Moon Landing)
Astrobotic's Griffin lander mission to the Moon's South Pole as part of NASA's CLPS program. Launching on SpaceX Falcon Heavy to deliver the FLEX rover and scientific payloads to Nobile Crater region near Mons Mouton.
Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks with up to 20 meteors per hour. Best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, but also visible from the Northern Hemisphere in the hours before dawn.
Total Solar Eclipse — Iceland, Spain, Greenland
A total solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and part of Portugal on August 12. A partial eclipse will be seen across Europe, Africa, and North America.
Perseid Meteor Shower Peak
The Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 13, 2026 during a new moon — ideal viewing conditions. Up to 100+ meteors per hour expected under dark skies.
Partial Lunar Eclipse — August 28
A partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026, visible from parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.
ESA JUICE Earth Gravity Assist Flyby
ESA JUICE spacecraft performs an Earth gravity assist flyby on its journey to Jupiter, gaining velocity for its 2031 arrival at the Jupiter system to study ocean-bearing icy moons.
Neptune at Opposition
Neptune reaches opposition on September 26, appearing at its brightest and closest to Earth for the year. While too faint for the naked eye, it will be visible through binoculars or a telescope in the constellation Pisces.
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch
NASA's next great infrared space observatory launches on SpaceX Falcon Heavy to a point one million miles from Earth. Will study cosmology, dark energy, and search for exoplanets with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble.
Saturn at Opposition
Saturn reaches opposition, appearing at its brightest and closest to Earth for the year. The ringed planet will be visible all night, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise — ideal for telescope viewing.
Orionid Meteor Shower Peak
Annual meteor shower from Halley's Comet debris peaks overnight October 21-22. Up to 20 meteors/hour at peak. The 80% gibbous moon sets before dawn, giving a good window for viewing in the pre-dawn hours.